Online purchase of digital media bundles

ABSTRACT

Techniques for interacting with an online media store to obtain a media asset bundle, such as a digital boxset, are disclosed. These techniques involve, for instance, browsing for a media asset bundle that includes at least one non-playable media asset, purchasing the media asset bundle, obtaining the media assets contained in the media asset bundle, determining if a presentation request has been made for a media asset in the media asset bundle, and presenting the requested media asset. Further, these techniques involve playing the media assets in a media asset bundle by selecting a media asset in the media asset bundle, determining whether the media asset is playable or non-playable, presenting the media asset using an appropriate media asset viewer if it is playable, not playing (skipping) the media asset if it is non-playable, and selecting/playing other media assets in the media asset bundle until no more media assets are available to be played.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent applicationNo. 60/622,280, filed Oct. 25, 2004, and entitled “ONLINE PURCHASE OFDIGITAL MEDIA BUNDLES” [Atty Docket No. APL1P349P], which is herebyincorporated herein by reference.

In addition, this application is related to (i) U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/832,812, filed Apr. 26, 2004, and entitled “METHOD ANDSYSTEM FOR SECURE NETWORK-BASED DISTRIBUTION OF CONTENT” [Atty DocketNo. APL1P269×1], (ii) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/833,267, filedApr. 26, 2004, and entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR NETWORK-BASEDPURCHASE AND DISTRIBUTION OF MEDIA” [Atty docket No. APL1P270×1], (iii)U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/832,812, filed Apr. 26, 2004, andentitled “GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FOR BROWSING, SEARCHING ANDPRESENTING MEDIA ITEMS” [Atty Docket No. APL1P277×1], (iv) U.S.Provisional Patent application No. 60/622,178, filed Oct. 25, 2004, andentitled “RESERVATION OF DIGITAL MEDIA ITEMS” [Atty Docket No.APL1P339P], and (v) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/620,223,filed Oct. 18, 2004, and entitled “NETWORK-BASED PURCHASE ANDDISTRIBUTION OF DIGITAL MEDIA ITEMS” [Atty Docket No. APL1P353P], all ofwhich are hereby incorporated herein by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the purchasing of digital media assetsand, more specifically, to the purchase of media asset bundles.

2. Description of the Related Art

Traditionally, music has been purchased at music stores or musicdepartments of larger stores. A consumer will visit the music store ordepartment and manually browse for albums or compact discs (CDs) ofinterest. After the consumer selects an album or CD of interest, theconsumer proceeds to a checkout register to pay for the album or CDbeing purchased.

In recent years music delivery or distribution over the Internet hasbecome popular. Due to the advances in efficient file formats, such asMP3 and MPEG4, the size of media files has become small enough to maketheir download via the Internet practical. Also, technological advanceshave led to higher-speed Internet connections and lower cost of memory.The combination of these advances make downloading media files, such asfor music and videos, manageable and not too time consuming.

One popular approach to online music distribution is Apple Computer'siTunes® online music store. Consumers may use the iTunes® online musicstore to purchase music either as individual music tracks or in albumsof songs. Other music stores such as Rhapsody™ and Napster™ have alsobeen employed to purchase music online.

However, one limitation common to online music stores (genericallyreferred to as online media stores) is in the limited options a consumerhas when purchasing music albums. Currently, a music album availablefrom an online media store contains a group of music files and no otherfile types. However, there are cases when a distributor of a music albummay want to distribute other media file types along with the musicfiles, such as non-playable file types (e.g., text or graphics). It istherefore desirable to enable the online distribution of media bundlesthat contain disparate media file types.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention pertains to techniques for purchasing media asset bundles.These techniques can allow a user of a client computer to identify,preview, and purchase media asset bundles. In the context of thisapplication, a media asset bundle is a group of disparate media assets,including at least one non-playable media asset.

The invention can be implemented in numerous ways, including as amethod, system, device, apparatus, graphical user interface, or computerreadable medium. Several embodiments of the invention are discussedbelow.

In one embodiment of the invention, a user browses for a media assetbundle that includes at least one non-playable media asset. Next, theuser purchases the media asset bundle and obtains the media assetscontained in the media asset bundle. Next, it is determined if a requesthas been made for a media asset in the media asset bundle and, if so,the requested media asset is presented to the user. In some embodimentsof the invention, the presenting of the requested media asset furtherinvolves determining whether the requested media asset is a playable ornon-playable media asset and presenting the viewing the media asset inan media asset viewer appropriate for that particular media asset (i.e.,a non-playable media asset viewer or a playable media asset viewer).Non-playable media assets include portable document format (PDF) files,graphics files, multi-media files, and text files. Playable media assetsinclude audio files and video files. Further, both playable andnon-playable media asset files can contain digital rights management(DRM) information in some embodiments. Non-playable media asset viewersinclude web browser applications, text editors, PDF viewers, and e-bookreaders. Playable media asset viewers include media managementapplications and media players.

In a second embodiment of the invention, a client (e.g., a personalcomputer) requests to purchase a media asset bundle. Next, a payment isauthorized for the request to purchase the media asset bundle and themedia assets in the media asset bundle are obtained and made availableto the requesting client.

In still another embodiment of the invention, a media asset is selectedfrom the media asset bundle (e.g., by a user or program). Next, adetermination is made whether the media asset in the media asset bundleis playable or non-playable. If the media asset is playable, the mediaasset is played. If the media asset is not playable, then the mediaasset is not played (i.e., skipped).

In another embodiment of the invention, a media asset bundle ispresented to a user of a client computer. First, a client request isreceived to purchase a media asset bundle. Next, a payment is authorizedfor the media assets. Next, the media assets are obtained and madeavailable to the client computer. Once the media assets have been madeavailable to the requesting client, a media asset in the media assetbundle is selected (e.g., by a user). Upon selection, it is determinedwhether the selected media asset is playable or non-playable. if themedia asset is playable, the media asset is played, or if not playable,not played.

Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, theprinciples of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be readily understood by the following detaileddescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a multi-device media purchase systemaccording to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a media asset bundle purchase andpresentation process according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary application window showing an interface forbrowsing and purchasing of a media asset bundle according to oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4A is a block diagram of a media asset bundle according to oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4B is a block diagram of a media asset bundle according to oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a server-side media asset bundle purchaseprocess according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram representation of an exemplary relationaldatabase containing various data tables and tables of pointers todigital media assets according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7A is a flow diagram of a client-side media asset bundle purchaseand presentation process according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7B is a flow diagram of a client-side media asset bundle purchaseand present process according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a screen shot of a representative application program windowaccording to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 shows an exemplary computer system suitable for use with theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention pertains to techniques for purchasing media asset bundles.These techniques can allow a user of a client computer to identify,preview, and purchase media asset bundles. In the context of thisinvention, a media asset bundle is a group of disparate media assets,including at least one non-playable media asset (e.g., text orgraphics).

Media assets are digital media items, for example audio, video, text,graphics, or multimedia files. The term media asset includes, but is notlimited to, a wide variety of digital media items of various types,including songs or other audio files (e.g., MP3, MPEG4, MC, WMA), musicvideos (e.g., QuickTime®, AVI), e-books, graphics (e.g., bitmap, JPEG,TIFF), portable document files (PDFs), digital slide presentations(e.g., Microsoft PowerPoint presentations), or interactive multimediapresentations (e.g., presented using a multimedia application such asQuickTime® or Macromedia Flash®). Further, media assets can be dividedinto two sub-types: playable media assets and non-playable media assets.Playable media assets include video and audio files, i.e., files thatare typically presented or “played” in media players. Examples ofplayable media assets include, but are not limited to, music, musicvideos, audio books, promotional films, concert footage, artistinterviews, and motion pictures.

Non-playable media assets include text and graphic files that aretypically presented or “viewed” in browser or viewer applications (e.g.,non-playable media asset viewers). As an example, a non-playable mediaasset could be a PDF file, viewed with a non-playable media assetviewer, in this case Adobe® Acrobat® Reader, which is typically used toview PDF files. Both playable and non-playable media assets may beprotected by digital rights management DRM protection (e.g., AppleComputer's Fair Play DRM) to limit access to the media assets to thepurchaser of those media assets (see, for example, U.S. application Ser.No. 10/832,812.) Examples of non-playable media assets includephotographs, logos, drawings, pamphlets, and e-books.

One example of a media asset bundle is a digital boxset. The digitalboxset is a collection of songs available for purchase from an onlinemedia store. A digital boxset can be considered an online analogue ofbox sets traditionally sold in record stores. Traditionally, box setscontain several albums by a single recording artist, often along withbonus songs and liner notes describing the music contained in the boxset. According to one embodiment, a digital boxset might include avariety of media assets including several songs, possibly one or moremusic videos, and a text, graphic or PDF file containing liner notes.

Typically, a consumer wishing to buy a media asset bundle online willemploy a media management application or media player running on aclient computer to make the purchase. Media management applications(MMAs) or media players, in the context of this invention, includesoftware applications that typically incorporate the ability to do oneor more of the following: play, browse, organize, purchase, and/ortransfer digital media items between devices, including to portablemedia players (e.g., MP3 or AAC players). An example of a mediamanagement application is Apple Computer's iTunes® application, producedby and available from Apple Computer, Inc., of Cupertino, Calif. Anexample of a portable media player is Apple Computer's iPod® availablefrom Apple Computer, Inc.

Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to FIGS.1-9. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that thedetailed description given herein with respect to these figures is forexplanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limitedembodiments.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a multi-device media purchase system 100according to one embodiment of the invention. The media purchase system100 includes a media commerce server 102. The media commerce server 102coordinates review and/or purchase of media assets (e.g., digital mediaitems) through on-line transactions. Media assets are categorized asplayable media assets 117 and non-playable media assets 115. On-linetransactions to purchase media assets are also referred to as electroniccommerce (e-commerce). The media purchase system 100 also includes aclient 104. Typically, the media purchase system 100 would include aplurality of different clients 104. Each client 104 includes a mediaplayer or media management application 108 (hereafter media player 108).The media player 108 is an application program (e.g., softwareapplication) that operates on the client 104, which is a computingdevice. The client 104 is coupled to the media commerce server 102through a data network 106. Hence, any of the clients 104 can interactwith the media commerce server 102 to review and/or purchase mediaassets. In one embodiment, the data network 106 includes at least aportion of the Internet. The clients 104 can vary with application butgenerally are computing devices that have memory storage. Often, theclients 104 are personal computers or other computing devices that arecapable of storing and presenting media to their users.

The media purchase system 100 also includes a media storage server 110and a media store 112. The media storage server 110 represents a remotestorage server that couples to the data network 106. The media store 112provides mass storage of the numerous playable media assets 117 andnon-playable media assets 115 that are available for purchase via themedia purchase system 100. Once purchased, the media assets can beaccessed from the media store 112 over the data network 106 by way ofthe media storage server 110.

More particularly, the media purchase system 100 allows a user of theclient 104 to utilize the media player 108 to browse, search or sortthrough a plurality of media asset bundles (not shown) that can bepurchased from the media commerce server 102. The media player 108 mayalso allow the user to preview a media clip of the media asset. In theevent that the user of the media player 108 desires to purchase aparticular media asset bundle (e.g., a media collection or digitalboxset), the user (via the media player 108) and the media commerceserver 102 engage in an on-line commerce transaction in which the userpays for access rights to the media assets in the media assetcollection.

In the media purchase system 100 shown in FIG. 1, the media assets arestored in the media store 112 and retrieved via the media storage server110. Hence, the media commerce server 102 need not burden its resourcesto deliver any of the media assets that may be purchased to the client104. Instead, on purchasing a particular media asset bundle, the mediacommerce server 102 sends download information to the media player 108on the client 104. The download information can then be used by themedia player 108 (and the client 104) to retrieve the media content forthe particular media asset bundle by interacting with the media storageserver 110 through the data network 106. In this regard, the mediastorage server 110 obtains media assets from the media store 112 anddownloads such media assets through the data network 106 to the client104. The downloaded media assets can then be stored on the client 104.Thereafter, the media player 108 can present (e.g., play or view) themedia assets at the client 104.

The connections through the data network 106 between the media commerceserver 102, the client 104 and the media storage server 110 can bethrough secure connections, such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). Further,the media assets are typically stored at the client 104 in an encryptedmanner.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a media asset bundle purchase and playprocess 200 according to one embodiment of the invention. The mediaasset bundle purchase and present process 200 is, for example,associated with a media player of an online media purchase system. Themedia player can, for example, be the media player 108 operating on theclient 104 illustrated in FIG. 1. The media asset bundle purchase andpresent process 200 typically permits a user to browse 201 availablemedia assets. Typically, as noted above, media assets include audio,video, text and graphics files. Some media assets will be grouped intomedia asset bundles, which can be purchased in a single transaction. Inone embodiment, the media assets in a media asset bundle may also bepurchased separately. Generally, a user will see some advantage inpurchasing a media asset bundle over buying media assets individually,including: a discounted price per media asset when bought as part of thebundle, the inclusion of media assets that are unavailable except aspart of a media asset bundle, or the inclusion of non-playable mediaitems such as liner notes that are unavailable except as part of a mediaasset bundle.

After the user browses 201 the available media assets and media assetbundles, the user purchases 203 a media asset bundle of interest. Uponthe completion of the purchase 203, the media assets of the media assetbundle are obtained 205 (e.g., by download or e-mail attachment). In oneembodiment, as disclosed in related U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/833,267, a client may receive a media access response containinginstructions to the media player (or other client application) enablingthe retrieval of each media asset in the media asset bundle that waspurchased. Once media assets are obtained 205, a decision 207 determinesif a presentation request for a media asset has been made (e.g., by auser selecting the media asset in the media player.) If the presentationrequest has been made, the media asset is presented 209 (e.g., played orviewed) to the user.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary application window 300 showing an interface forbrowsing and purchasing of a media asset bundle according to oneembodiment of the invention. In one embodiment of the invention, theapplication window 300 is produced by a media management application.

The application window 300 includes a media asset display panel 305,which typically contains information and graphics relating to aparticular media asset bundle (or group of media assets) that isreferred to as a “digital boxset.” Additionally, the application window300 contains a media asset listing 307, having detailed informationregarding individual media assets in the media asset bundle. Typically,this detailed information includes such things as publisher informationand media asset title. The media asset listing 307 shows media assetinformation for songs, videos, and liner notes associated with theparticular media asset bundle (e.g., digital boxset). In this example,the media asset information includes title, artist name, and album name.Of course other information could be displayed as well, such as yearpublished, playing time, music genre, etc.

The media asset listing 307 contains a list of media assets, includingboth playable media assets 309 and non-playable media assets 311. Inthis embodiment, playable media assets 309 include songs and videos,while the non-playable media asset 311 shown is a liner notes file,which typically contains text and/or graphics. The media asset displaypanel 305 contains artist and album information as well as a graphic303, for example an album cover graphic, associated with the media assetbundle. Additionally, the media asset display panel 305 includes apurchase button 301 (labeled “Buy Boxset”, in this embodiment), whichenables the user to purchase the media assets listed in the media assetlisting 307.

FIG. 4A is a block diagram of an exemplary media asset bundle 400according to one embodiment of the invention. The media asset bundle 400includes a plurality of playable media assets 401 and at least onenon-playable media asset 403. Specifically, in this exemplary mediaasset bundle 400 the playable media assets 401 are songs 405 (e.g.,digital music files) and the non-playable media asset 403 is liner notes407 (e.g., a document containing text and/or graphics).

In another embodiment of the invention, the media asset bundle caninclude a plurality of playable and/or non-playable media asset types.As noted above, media asset types include, but are not limited to audiofiles, video files and graphics files. One example of such a media assetbundle could contains one or more songs and one or more music videos.Other combinations are possible as well.

FIG. 4B is a block diagram of an exemplary media asset bundle 410according to another embodiment of the invention. As in FIG. 4A, thisembodiment contains playable media assets 401 and non-playable mediaassets 403. In this embodiment, the media asset bundle 450 furthercontains an additional playable media asset 409, namely, a video file(e.g., a music video) and an additional non-playable media asset,namely, a digital graphic 411 (e.g., a photograph or logo).

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a server-side media asset bundle purchaseprocess 500 according to one embodiment of the invention. This processis, for example, associated with one or more server computers of a mediapurchase system. The server computers can, for example, be the mediastorage server 110 and/or the media commerce server 102 illustrated inFIG. 1.

The server-side media asset bundle purchase process 500 begins withreceiving 501 a client request to purchase a media asset bundle, forexample, a digital boxset. Next, a payment is authorized 503.Authorization may proceed according to conventional online paymentmethods or as described in related U.S. patent application Ser. Nos.10/833,267 and 10/832,812. Next, decision 505 determines if payment hasbeen authorized. If payment has not been authorized, the purchase isdenied and media asset bundle purchase process 500 ends. On the otherhand, if decision 505 determines that payment has been authorized, themedia assets in the media asset bundle are obtained 507. For example,the media assets in the media asset bundle can be obtained 507 bylooking up media asset locations in a database and gathering the mediaassets at a server computer. Finally, the media assets are madeavailable 509 to the requesting client. The media assets can be madeavailable 509 by, for example, transmitting the individual media assetsto the client, by storing a media interest indicator on a servercomputer such that a user may download the media assets at a later time,or by sending a media access response (e.g., a document containingdownload information) to be used by a media management application todownload the media assets when practicable (for a discussion ofexemplary media access response formats, see related U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/832,812.)

FIG. 6 is a block diagram representation of an exemplary relationaldatabase 600 containing various data tables and tables of pointers 650pertaining to digital media assets according to one embodiment of theinvention. Other database types (such as flat file databases) may beused as well. The database 600 may be used, for example, at operation507 of the server-side media asset bundle purchase process 500 discussedabove. It should be understood that there are a wide variety of databaseorganizational structures, and that FIG. 6 is meant to be exemplary andnot as limiting the invention to any particular database structure.

FIG. 6 shows three exemplary data sections in the database 600, whichmay be distributed across one or more media or database servers. Adatabase table section 601 contains the database, i.e., the relationaldata tying the database together. As will be understood by thosefamiliar with database organization, database tables may be implementedas tables of pointers pointing to other tables or to files on a servercomputer. The database table section 601 shown contains collectiontables 605 (e.g., C1), album tables 609 (e.g., A1 and A2), bundle tables607 (e.g., B1), and media asset tables 611 a-611 d (e.g., S1, S2, V1,and LN1).

In addition to the database table section 601, the relational databasealso includes a metadata section 603. As can be seen in FIG. 6, themetadata section 603 contains metadata information, organized inmetadata tables 613 (e.g., MD1 and MD2). Metadata, in the context ofthis figure, includes information relating to media assets, for example,songs. Typical metadata information includes media asset title,publication information, artist information, etc. The exemplary metadatatables 613 shown in FIG. 6 contain song information such as is normallystored in, for example ID3 tags in typical MP3 files, including suchdata as song titles, artist names, music genres, song release dates,etc.

The relational database further includes a media asset storage section604. The media asset storage section 604 is, for example, a file serveror a media storage device such as the media store 112 shown in FIG. 1.

As discussed above, the database 600 contains a variety of tables,stored in database table section 601. Typical tables include acollection table 605. The collection table 605 may include pointers 650to several media asset bundles, including music albums and compilations.In one embodiment, collection table 605 contains pointers 650 to a mediaasset bundle, logically represented by bundle table 607, which includespointers 652 that lead to media asset tables 611 a-611 d, which containpointers 654 that lead to media assets 615 (e.g., songs S1 and S2, videoV1, and liner notes LN1) associated with the media asset bundle. Themedia asset tables 611 a-611 d can further include pointers 656 tometadata for the associated media assets 615. Alternately, the bundletable 607 may point (not shown) to a plurality of music albums such asthe album represented by album table 609. In one embodiment of theinvention, the media asset bundle is a digital boxset. Additionally, thecollection table 605 shown can contain pointers 658 to the album table609, which contains pointers to media assets 615 (e.g., songs S1, S2,etc.) in the album.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the album table 609 and the bundle table 607include pointers 652 and 660 to songs, some of which are included inboth the album table 609 and the bundle table 607. Specifically, forsong S1, a media asset 615, is shown as having pointers 660 and 652 toit from both the album table (A1) 609 and the bundle table (B1) 607. Inthis case, following the pointers 660 and 652 that lead to the mediaasset table (S1) 611 a leads to a location (e.g., path) of song S1,which is shown as the single media asset 615 that is stored in the mediaasset storage section 604.

In FIG. 6, media asset tables 611 a-611 d contain pointers 654 to mediaassets 615 (e.g., song files, video files, and liner notes) in the mediaasset storage section 604. The media asset tables shown in FIG. 6include song tables 611 a and 611 b, which point to song files S1 and S2in the media asset storage section 604; a video table 611 c, whichpoints to a video file V1 in the media asset storage section 604; and aliner notes table 611 d, which points to a liner notes file (LN1) in themedia asset storage section 604. Other media asset types, such asgraphics, multimedia files, audio books, and/or e-books may be stored inthe database in a similar manner.

Returning to the media asset bundle table 607 and the album table 609,which may indicate that songs common to both a media asset bundle and analbum are stored only once on a single file server, those familiar withthe art will understand that media assets associated with a media assetbundle and media assets associated with an album may be stored indifferent locations, leading to multiple copies of a single media assetacross a plurality of file servers. Thus, in one embodiment, song fileS1 is stored in one media asset storage section for a first media assetbundle and in a separate media asset storage section for an album.

FIG. 7A is a flow diagram of a client-side media asset bundle purchaseand present process 700 according to one embodiment of the invention.The media asset bundle purchase and present process 700 is, for exampleassociated with a client computer of a media purchase system. The clientcomputer can, for example, be the client 104 illustrated in FIG. 1.

The client-side media asset bundle purchase and present process 700begins with a user browsing 701 a media store, e.g., Apple Computer'siTunes® Store, using, for example, a media management application e.g.,Apple Computer's iTunes® client application. Next, the user finds andselects 703 a media asset bundle, for example, a digital boxset that heor she wishes to purchase 705. The selection 703 and purchase 705 may beaccomplished by selecting, for example, a user interface control, suchas a purchase button 301 in the application window 300 shown in FIG. 3.Next, the media asset bundle is received 707 at the client computer, forexample, by downloading individual media assets associated with themedia asset bundle.

Thereafter, the received media assets can be displayed 709 to the user.Next, a displayed media asset is selected 711 by the user or the clientcomputer. Next, a decision 713 determines if the selected media asset isa playable media asset, such as an audio or video file. As noted above,playable media assets include video and audio files, i.e., files thatare typically “played” in media players or media managementapplications. Examples of playable media assets include but are notlimited to, music, music videos and movies. If the media asset isplayable, the selected media asset is presented by playing 717 the mediaasset in a playable media asset reader (e.g., a media managementapplication or media player). If decision 713 determines that theselected media asset is a non-playable media asset (e.g., liner notescontained in a PDF file), then the selected non-playable media asset isviewed 715 in, for example, a non-playable media asset viewerapplication, such as the Adobe® Acrobat® Reader, which is commonly usedto view PDF files. Other non-playable media asset viewers include webbrowser applications, XML browsers, text editors, and e-book readers.Finally, decision 719 checks to see if the user has selected anothermedia asset. If a media asset has been selected, the client-side mediaasset bundle purchase and present process 700 returns to block 713 andsubsequent blocks. If, on the other hand, no media asset has beenselected, then the process 700 ends.

In one embodiment of the invention, the non-playable media asset viewerapplication is integral (i.e., built-in) to the media managementapplication or media player used to view 715 the received media assets.In another embodiment, the media management application or media playerused to view 715 the received media assets can spawn an externalapplication to view non-playable media assets.

FIG. 7B is a flow diagram of a client-side media asset bundle purchaseand present process 750 according to a second embodiment of theinvention. According to this embodiment media assets are automaticallyplayed sequentially (or randomly) by a media management application ormedia player (e.g., when the media management application is playing themedia assets in a playlist, album, or digital boxset).

Client-side media asset bundle purchase and present process 750 beginswith steps 701-709 as described above with reference to FIG. 7B.However, upon the completion of the displaying 709 of media assets inthe media asset bundle, the list of media assets is played 751 (e.g.,presented by selecting the list and clicking ‘play’ in the mediamanagement application.) Next, the first (or next) media asset in thelist of media assets is selected 753, followed by a determination 755whether the selected media asset is playable. If the selected mediaasset is playable, then it is played 759 by the media managementapplication or media player. On the other hand, if the selected mediaasset is not playable then it is skipped 757. Upon completion of theplaying 757 of the currently selected media asset, a decision 761determines if there are more media assets to present in the list ofmedia assets. If there are, the client-side media asset bundle purchaseand present process 750 returns to block 753 and subsequent blocks. Onthe other hand, if decision 761 determines that no more media assets areavailable (e.g., the media management application has played through theentire media asset bundle), then the process ends. In this way, forexample, a media management application may automatically play one ormore media assets in a media asset bundle (e.g., boxset) that includesaudio files (e.g., songs) and text/graphics files (e.g., liner notes)and be able to distinguish between audio and text/graphics without userintervention. Similarly, a media management application can play one ormore media assets in a media asset bundle that includes audio and videofiles as well as text/graphics files, playing only the audio files, onlythe video files, or both, depending on the user's preference.

FIG. 8 is a screenshot of a representative application program window800 according to one embodiment of the invention. This particularscreenshot is of a version of iTunes®, a media managementapplication/media player produced by and available from Apple Computer,Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. The application window contains, among otherdata, a listing 803 of a plurality of media assets 805, including AACaudio files 807 (songs) and a PDF document 809 (liner notes). As notedabove, the PDF document 809 is an example of a non-playable media asset,while the MC audio files 807 are examples of playable media assets.

FIG. 9 shows an exemplary computer system 925 suitable for use as aclient according to one embodiment of the invention. The computer systemcan be, for example, the client 104 as illustrated in FIG. 1. Thecomputer system 925 includes a display monitor 928 having single ormulti-screen displays 930 (or multiple displays), cabinet 932, keyboard934, and mouse 936. Cabinet 932 houses a drive 938, such as a CD-ROM orfloppy drive, system memory and a hard drive (not shown) which may beutilized to store and retrieve software programs incorporating computercode that implements the present invention, data for use with theinvention, and the like. Although CD-ROM 940 is shown as an exemplarycomputer readable storage medium, other computer readable storage mediaincluding floppy disk, tape, flash memory, system memory, and hard drivemay be utilized. Additionally, a data signal embodied in a carrier wave(e.g., in a network including the Internet) may be the computer readablestorage medium. In one implementation, an operating system for thecomputer system 925 is provided in the system memory, the hard drive,the CD-ROM 940 or other computer readable storage medium and serves toincorporate the computer code that implements the invention.

The invention is preferably implemented by software, but can also beimplemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and software. Theinvention can also be embodied as computer readable code on a computerreadable medium. The computer readable medium is any data storage devicethat can store data, which can thereafter be read by a computer system.Examples of the computer readable medium include read-only memory,random-access memory, CD-ROMs, flash memory cards, DVDs, magnetic tape,optical data storage devices, and carrier waves. The computer readablemedium can also be distributed over network-coupled computer systems sothat the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributedfashion.

The many features and advantages of the present invention are apparentfrom the written description and, thus, it is intended by the appendedclaims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention.Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur tothose skilled in the art, the invention should not be limited to theexact construction and operation as illustrated and described. Hence,all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to as fallingwithin the scope of the invention.

1. A method for obtaining a media asset bundle, comprising: (a) browsingfor a media asset bundle, wherein the media asset bundle comprises aplurality of media assets and wherein at least one of the media assetsin the media asset bundle is a non-playable media asset; (b) purchasingthe media asset bundle; and (c) obtaining the media assets contained inthe media asset bundle.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the purchasing(b) of the media asset bundle is done at an online media store.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: (d) determining if a request hasbeen made for a media asset in the media asset bundle; and (e)presenting the requested media asset.
 4. The method of claim 3, whereinthe presenting of the requested media asset is accomplished using amedia management application.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein thepresenting of (e) further comprises: (e)(1) determining whether therequested media asset is a non-playable media asset; and (e)(2) viewingthe non-playable media asset in a non-playable media asset viewer. 6.The method of claim 5, wherein the non-playable media asset is selectedfrom the group consisting of a portable document format (PDF) file, agraphics file, a multi-media file and a text file.
 7. The method ofclaim 6, wherein the non-playable media asset file contains digitalrights management information.
 8. The method of claim 5, wherein thepresenting of (e) further comprises: (e)(3) determining whether therequested media asset is a playable media asset; and (e)(4) playing theplayable media asset in a playable media asset viewer.
 9. The method ofclaim 5, wherein the presenting of the non-playable media asset isaccomplished using a media management application.
 10. The method ofclaim 8, wherein the playable media assets are selected from the groupconsisting of audio files and video files.
 11. The method of claim 10,wherein the audio file comprises media content selected from the groupconsisting of a song and a spoken-word performance.
 12. The method ofclaim 8, wherein the playable media assets are selected from the groupconsisting of songs, music videos, and audio books.
 13. The method ofclaim 6, wherein the text file comprises embedded graphics.
 14. Themethod of claim 5, wherein the non-playable media asset viewer isselected from the group consisting of a PDF viewer, a text editor, a webbrowser, an e-book reader, and an XML browser.
 15. The method of claim14, wherein the non-playable media asset viewer is incorporated into amedia management application.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein thenon-playable media asset viewer is spawned by a media managementapplication.
 17. A method for obtaining a media asset bundle,comprising: (a) receiving a client request to purchase a media assetbundle, wherein the media asset bundle comprises a plurality of mediaassets and wherein at least one of the media assets in the media assetbundle is a non-playable media asset; (b) authorizing a payment for therequest to purchase the media asset bundle; (c) obtaining the mediaassets of the media asset bundle; and (d) making the media asset bundleavailable to the requesting client.
 18. The method of claim 17, whereinthe purchasing (b) of the media asset bundle is done at an online mediastore.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the making available of (d)further comprises sending the media assets of the media asset bundle tothe client.
 20. The method of claim 17, wherein the making available of(d) further comprises sending a media access response to the client. 21.The method of claim 17, wherein the making available of (d) furthercomprises storing a deferred download request.
 22. A method fordisplaying a media asset bundle, wherein the media asset bundlecomprises at least one non-playable media asset and at least oneplayable media asset, the method comprising; (a) selecting a media assetin the media asset bundle; and (b) determining whether the media assetin the media asset bundle is playable or non-playable; (c) if the mediaasset is playable, playing the media asset; and (d) else, if the mediaasset is non-playable, not playing the media asset.
 23. The method ofclaim 22, further comprising: (e) repeating (a) through (d) for a nextmedia asset in the media asset bundle until all playable media assets inthe media asset bundle have been played.
 24. The method of claim 22,wherein the not playing the non-playable media asset (d) comprisesskipping the non-playable media asset.
 25. The method of claim 22,wherein the non-playable media asset is selected from the groupconsisting of a portable document format (PDF) file, a graphics file, amulti-media file and a text file.
 26. The method of claim 24, whereinthe playable media asset is selected from the group consisting of anaudio file and a video file.
 27. The method of claim 26, wherein theaudio file comprises media content selected from the group consisting ofa song and a spoken-word performance.
 28. The method of claim 26,wherein the playable media assets are selected from the group consistingof songs, music videos, and e-books.
 29. A method for obtaining a mediaasset bundle, comprising: (a) receiving a client request to purchase amedia asset bundle, wherein the media asset bundle comprises a pluralityof media assets, including at least one playable file comprising musicand at least one non-playable file comprising text and embeddedgraphics; (b) authorizing a payment for the request to purchase themedia asset bundle; (c) obtaining the media assets of the media assetbundle; (d) making the media asset bundle available to the requestingclient; (e) selecting a media asset in the media asset bundle; (f)determining whether the media asset in the media asset bundle isplayable or non-playable; (g) if the media asset is playable, playingthe media asset; and (h) else, if the media asset is non-playable, notplaying the media asset.
 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the mediaasset bundle further comprises one or more one playable files comprisingvideo.
 31. A system for purchasing media assets, comprising: one or moreclient computers, each connected to a computer network; one or moreclient applications, each separately running on the one or more clientcomputers, the client applications configured to browse, purchase, andplay media assets; one or more remote server computers configured toprocess commercial transactions, each of the one or more remote servercomputers connected to the computer network, wherein at least one of theremote server computers is configured to enable at least one of theclient applications to browse for and purchase a media asset bundle; oneor more remote media content servers configured to deliver media assetsto any of the one or more client computers connected to the network; andwherein the media asset bundle comprises media assets and wherein atleast one of the media assets in the media asset bundle is anon-playable media asset.
 32. A computer readable medium including amedia asset bundle, comprising at least one non-playable media asset atleast one playable media asset.
 33. A computer readable medium asrecited in claim 32, wherein the non-playable media asset is selectedfrom the group consisting of a portable document format (PDF) file, agraphics file, a multi-media file and a text file.
 34. A computerreadable medium as recited in claim 33, wherein the non-playable mediaasset file contains digital rights management information.
 35. Acomputer readable medium as recited in claim 32, wherein the playablemedia asset is selected from the group consisting of an audio file and avideo file.
 36. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 35,wherein the audio file comprises media content selected from the groupconsisting of a song and a spoken-word performance.
 37. A computerreadable medium as recited in claim 32, wherein the playable media assetis selected from the group consisting of a music file, a music video,and an e-book.
 38. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 33,wherein the text file comprises embedded graphics.
 39. A method forobtaining a media asset bundle, comprising: (a) browsing for a mediaasset bundle, wherein the media asset bundle comprises a plurality ofmedia assets, wherein the plurality of media assets includes at leastone media asset of a first media asset type and at least one media assetof a second media asset type; (b) purchasing the media asset bundle; and(c) obtaining the media assets contained in the media asset bundle. 40.The method of claim 39, wherein the purchasing (b) of the media assetbundle is done at an online media store.
 41. The method of claim 39,further comprising: (d) determining if a request has been made for amedia asset in the media asset bundle; and (e) presenting the requestedmedia asset.
 42. The method of claim 39, wherein the presenting of (e)further comprises: (e)(1) determining whether the requested media assetis a non-playable media asset; and (e)(2) viewing the non-playable mediaasset in a non-playable media asset viewer.
 43. The method of claim 42,wherein the non-playable media asset is selected from the groupconsisting of a portable document format (PDF) file, a graphics file, amultimedia file and a text file.
 44. The method of claim 39, wherein theplayable media assets types are selected from the group consisting ofaudio files, video files, and graphics files.
 45. The method of claim44, wherein audio files comprise media content selected from the groupconsisting of songs, interviews, and spoken-word performances.
 46. Themethod of claim 44, wherein video files comprise media content selectedfrom the group consisting of videos and motion pictures.
 47. The methodof claim 44, wherein graphics files comprise media content selected fromthe group consisting of pictures, drawings, and text.